Helpful Definitions

Internet - An immense, global network that connects computers via telephone lines
and/or fiber networks to storehouses of electronic information. With
only a computer, a modem, a telephone line and a service provider,
people from all over the world can communicate and share information
with little more than a few keystrokes.

Bulletin Board Systems (BBSs) - Electronic networks of computers that are connected by a central
computer setup and operated by a system administrator or operator and
are distinguishable from the Internet by their "dial-up" accessibility.
BBS users link their individual computers to the central BBS computer by
a modem which allows them to post messages, read messages left by
others, trade information, or hold direct conversations. Access to a BBS
can, and often is, privileged and limited to those users who have
access privileges granted by the systems operator.

Commercial Online Service - Examples of COSs are America Online, Prodigy, CompuServe and Microsoft
Network, which provide access to their service for a fee. COSs generally
offer limited access to the Internet as part of their total service
package.

Internet Service Provider (ISP) - Examples of ISPs are Erols, Concentric and Netcom. These services offer direct, full access to the Internet at a flat, monthly rate and often provide electronic-mail service for their customers. ISPs often provide space on their servers for their customers to maintain World Wide Web (WWW) sites. Not all ISPs are commercial enterprises. Educational, governmental and nonprofit organizations also provide Internet access to their members.

Public Chat Rooms - Created, maintained, listed and monitored by the COS and other public
domain systems such as Internet Relay Chat. A number of customers can be
in the public chat rooms at any given time, which are monitored for
illegal activity and even appropriate language by systems operators
(SYSOP). Some public chat rooms are monitored more frequently than
others, depending on the COS and the type of chat room. Violators can be
reported to the administrators of the system (at America On-line they
are referred to as terms of service [TOS]) which can revoke user
privileges. The public chat rooms usually cover a broad range of topics
such as entertainment, sports, game rooms, children only, etc.

Electronic Mail (Email) - A function of BBSs, COSs and ISPs which provides for the transmission of
messages and files between computers over a communications network
similar to mailing a letter via the postal service. E-mail is stored on a
server, where it will remain until the addressee retrieves it.
Anonymity can be maintained by the sender by predetermining what the
receiver will see as the "from" address. Another way to conceal one's
identity is to use an "anonymous remailer," which is a service that
allows the user to send an e-mail message repackaged under the
remailer's own header, stripping off the originator's name completely.

Chat - Real-time text conversation between users in a chat room with no
expectation of privacy. All chat conversation is accessible by all
individuals in the chat room while the conversation is taking place.

Usenet (Newsgroups) - Like a giant, cork bulletin board where users post messages and
information. Each posting is like an open letter and is capable of
having attachments, such as graphic image files (GIFs). Anyone accessing
the newsgroup can read the postings, take copies of posted items, or
post responses. Each newsgroup can hold thousands of postings.
Currently, there are over 29,000 public newsgroups and that number is
growing daily. Newsgroups are both public and/or private. There is no
listing of private newsgroups. A user of private newsgroups has to be
invited into the newsgroup and be provided with the newsgroup's address.

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